BROTHERS

by Ben Bova

Bantam Books

0-553-09379-7

434pp/$22.95/April 1996

Although Ben Bova's Brothers ostensible tells the story of Arthur Marshak's
attempts to get approval for his research into organ generation, the scientific background
Bova presents takes a back seat to the real story of two brothers engaged in sibling
rivalry and jealousy. This is a theme Bova seems to be using in a lot of his work lately.
His novel Moonrise also makes use of two brothers' rivalry.

In the case of Brothers, the siblings are Arthur and Jesse Marshak. While Arthur
has built a comfortable life with his biotech company, Jesse has devoted his life to
working as an internist at an inner city hospital. Extremely close to each other, their
lives change when Arthur becomes engaged to Julia, a British Airlines executive. Shortly
before the wedding, however, Julia and Jesse realize their love for each other and Julia
marries Jesse, beginning the rivalry between the two brothers.

The novel opens with Arthur attending an Humanitarian of the Year dinner in honor of
Jesse. The first time he has seen or spoken to his brother since Jesse's marriage to
Julia. That evening, Arthur has an idea for a method which would allow the generation of
replacement organs within the recipient's body. He calls Jesse to ask his opinions and
help in the matter.

The remainder of the novel is a series of scenes which move backwards and forwards
through time to give the whole story of Julia's involvement with the brothers and Arthur's
research into organ growth. The culmination of the events is Arthur's decision to submit
his research to a Science Court, in hopes that they will validate the work he is doing and
protect that work from religious extremists, Luddites and congressmen. Bova informs the
reader by means of a forword, that the idea of a Science Court has been in existence in
the real world for years, but hasn't yet been carried out. Although the Science Court
seems like a good idea, Bova (who seems to favor the concept) portrays the proceedings of
the tribunal almost as a Kangaroo Court. Politics and relationships become as important in
the decision of the jury as science.

Bova, of course, is a leading proponent of science. It is not surprising, therefore,
that the majority of the people who oppose Arthur Marshak in this novel are shown as
close-minded obstacles rather than individuals who have different agendas. Surprisingly,
Bova's portrayal of a preacher, Simmonds, accepts that he has a deeply held belief in god
and his own activities. When Simmonds is called upon to council Jesse and Julia Marshak,
he accepts their differences in religious views from his own and tries to offer the best
advice possible.

Bova also tries to tackle the big question of scientific morality. Although Jesse's
love for Julia is one of the factors in the breakdown of Arthur and Jesse's relationship,
Jesse's belief that Arthur does not pay enough attention to the moral implications of his
research.

For all the shifting viewpoints Bova uses: Jesse's, Julia's, Pat Hayward's (Marshak's
PR Flack), etc., the story remains Arthur Marshak's. The majority of the novel and the
Science Court is seen through his eyes. By showing us the events through others' eyes,
Bova allows us to see the folly of Marshak's actions as well as the success.

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